The future we want? Between hope and despair on the road to the Rio Earth Summit

I have been up at night a lot over the last ten days thinking about the future. You do not have to feel bad for me as the reason was a joyful one: I was carrying around my new born daughter. As I stared at her fresh face and hints of smiles, I could not but think about the future she will face or want to shape for herself. I therefore took an instant liking to the title of the draft outcome of the next Rio Earth Summit, which will take place this June. "The Future We Want", the UN has called the document, which was first leaked and then published this week. It´s the outcome of a lengthy preparatory process, which saw governments, businesses and civil society, including Greenpeace, set out their vision for Rio in over 6000 pages of submissions.

When I started reading, though, my joy disappeared quickly. I can handle dry, bureaucratic language. But what enrages me is when people talk about the crises we face - the billions without clean water or electricity, the billion suffering from hunger, the pillage of our oceans and forests - without any sense of urgency. And lack of urgency is, above all, what this document exudes (though there is some good news especially for our oceans, so please keep reading ...).

The Future envisioned here is one in which we have plenty of time to fix our problems - be they unemployment or climate change. There is a lot of talk of "acknowledging", "resolving", "recognizing" and "noting" in this text - all UN code words for not doing much. Sometimes the lack of urgency is even spelled out. Noting the outrage that billions each year are spent on destroying our planet through, for example, subsidizing fossil fuels, they suggest that governments at Rio commit to "gradually eliminate subsidies that have considerable negative effects on the environment". Yes, gradually. You know, when you get around to it, dear governments. We know you are busy saving banks and bonuses. It reminds me of the old joke about British public servants shouting "What do we want? Gradual change. When do we want it? In due course". It would actually be funny, if only the future that awaits my daughter unless we act urgently wasn´t one of runaway climate change or destroyed forests.

Another problem is a lack of spine in a lot of the proposals. It´s a great idea, for example, to make all big businesses repsponsible for and report on their social and environmental impacts. Indeed, 10 years ago, at the last Earth Summit in Johannesburg, governments committed to create global rules for businesses. But when the document calls for "a global policy framework requiring all listed and large private companies to consider sustainability issues", it simply does not go far enough. We don´t need consideration, we need clear rules that can be enforced and allow those who suffer the social and environmental impacts of irresponsible businesses to get redress and justice.

Greenpeace is also strongly in favour of Sustainable Development Goals, that, for example, could set out the right to sustainable energy for all by 2020. However, if this document is not improved, all we are going to get will be a process that may result in Sustainable Development Goals "by 2015". The goals themselves are then to the be achieved by 2030. This is inviting three years of torturous negotiations followed by more foot dragging as 2030 is way past the sell by date of most current politicians (even those in power in 2015). This is not setting out a future we want at Rio.

The lack of spine is clearest in the last paragraph which calls for voluntary commitments announced at Rio to be stapled together in a "registry/compendium that will serve as an accountability framework." In other words, there will be no enforcement or control. Your word will be taken at face value and the "accountability framework" will be the act of stapling all voluntary commitments together in one document. An invitation to greenwash, if there ever was one.

If you thought it couldn´t get worse, it does. In some areas the document simply sells the problem as the future we (allegedly) want. For example, while the current global trade regime is part of the reason we are faced with unsustainable agriculture or empty oceans, the document calls for more of the same to solve the food security crisis and endorses the - pretty dead - unsustainable Doha trade talks.

But here is the good news! If agreed by world leaders, the document would finally end our obsession with GDP growth as it "recognize(s) the limitations of GDP as a measure of well-being" and agrees to "develop and strengthen indicators complementing GDP that integrate economic, social and environmental dimensions in a balanced manner." This could be progress.

The document also at least opens the door to the environment finally getting a stronger voice at the global level. One option it sets out is to establish a UN Environment Agency. If (and only if) this option is agreed, this will be the first time the environment got better institutions globally for 40 years. We would be ready to celebrate that.

Finally, on oceans governance, the document says exactly what it should. You can tell by the language. It´s clear and does not put off action. It says: "We agree to, as soon as possible", to negotiate an agreement to protect the high seas, which are currently being plundered in wild west style. That´s the kind of action we would want to see more of in Rio. That´s the kind of language that we would want to see throughout any document claiming to chart the course to a future we want.

The future I want for my daughter is not the one set out in this document. But as I carry her around once more tonight, I am more determined than ever to make sure our governments and businesses are held to account and forced to act. Join us now!

Urgency is the one thing no one in power seems to have. Maybe could we get a Greenpeace representative to the top (PM) and then world would be saved. ...

Urgency is the one thing no one in power seems to have. Maybe could we get a Greenpeace representative to the top (PM) and then world would be saved. Until then, we are doomed unless someone other than the majority (lol) has some common sense!

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(Unregistered) DaveInSA
says:

Well, are we surprised? I fear not. The UN is manipulated by governments which, in turn are manipulated by big business. All in pursuit of money an...

Well, are we surprised? I fear not. The UN is manipulated by governments which, in turn are manipulated by big business. All in pursuit of money and power. As a generation of human beings we have a chance to change all of this. A chance to alter the development path of the human race for the greater good of all. But no. Global leaders cannot bring themselves to do it. Because they love their big boats, houses and islands (which will soon be under water due to climate change!)

This generation of leaders will become known as the ones who didn't listen and didn't care. They will go down in history as the most ineffective and indecisive leaders of all time.

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(Unregistered) John
says:

The worse thing is that we have the technology in hand that could lead to a fossil free world in a few decades. What stops us are fanatics. Unregula...

The worse thing is that we have the technology in hand that could lead to a fossil free world in a few decades. What stops us are fanatics. Unregulated Capitalism has captured the world as the ideology of choice. Even though it has failed miserably except for the extremely wealthy the fanatics in the public and private sectors keep the myth alive that without it we would be worse off.

There is no doubt that we would have a massive reduction in billionaires and multi-millionaires but we would also have a fairer distribution of wealth and a healthier environment. It is time for democratic governments to start acting in the interest of all their people. It is time for the people to wake up look at reality and demand that government act for them.

Capitalism has many flavours and the heavily regulated flavour is best for most people. Until we tame the beast we will be threatened by ecological and social disaster. We have to reclaim centre stage from the self interested, greedy fanatics.

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(Unregistered) piggy
says:

I wonder why in the world would they have all these summits all the time if they don't plan on accomplishing something for sustainability. Why can...

I wonder why in the world would they have all these summits all the time if they don't plan on accomplishing something for sustainability. Why can't they just stay home and save on the fossil fuels that it takes to fly them there and back. I think it is a waste of bureaucrats' time and energy, especially for the poorer nations who don't benefit from these summits.

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(Unregistered) shrinity
says:

We have so truly identified most of the areas which need immediate attention in order to prevent an imminent environmental catastrophe. We have passed...

We have so truly identified most of the areas which need immediate attention in order to prevent an imminent environmental catastrophe. We have passed suitable laws to strictly regulate how we behave with respect to our environment. We have the necessary resources to enforce, adopt and practice these principles. But there seems to be a missing link that effectively renders all good intent null and void. And that is terribly frustrating.
I read about most of the proposals lacking spine. If such a thing exists, then there is much that is not genuine about these proposals in the first place.
Has sustenance of our environment become a mere ticket to political office? Or has the idea been appropriately commercialized to sell trinkets and T-shirts through online money-making ventures?
There has to be a paradigm shift in how we understand Earth Conservation. It is up to each Earthling to become responsible. If such an awareness campaign can be conceived and it manages to instill in the minds of every World Citizen what is at stake and how to prevent a less desirous life for our children, then that would make a huge difference to the present hiatus in action.

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(Unregistered) Jane
says:

There are many simple ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally that would be acceptable to all as they do not impinge on competition. One woul...

There are many simple ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally that would be acceptable to all as they do not impinge on competition. One would be to reduce the speed limit to 80km/hr globally. Fit alarms to cars when they go over this limit and a cut out if the car goes over 90km/hr.Insurance companies could encourage uptake by offering cheaper insurance for compliers pre- legislation.
In this time of high unemployment people could be mobilised to plant forestry with shares in the forestry given to supplement wages. Forestry is still the most efficient and sustainable source of carbon capture and storage.
These measures would also help to focus peoples minds on the urgency of climate warming and species depletion. It would help to get them back in touch with the interdependence of all our ecosystems.